Thailand’s effort to revive economic growth with more than $10 billion of stimulus faces an obstacle from its surging currency.

The baht has strengthened more than 6% against the dollar in 2019, the most among major Asian currencies, and its appreciation leads the world over the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The climb has hurt tourism and exports, contributing to the weakest economic expansion since 2014 as the U.S.-China trade spat also hits home. The baht is seen as a safe haven and officials will be wary of intervening too much in foreign-exchange markets as the U.S. closely monitors countries’ currency policies, according to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.

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Thailand’s effort to revive economic growth with more than $10 billion of stimulus faces an obstacle from its surging currency.

I only know two aspects about Thai money. One, I never seem to have enough and secondly don't step on a coin. Hopefully, there is someone in Thaivisa land that can explain this economic problem in simple terms?

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For expats and exporters who were hoping it might fall sometime soon. From Bloomberg.

"......strategists say the currency isn’t likely to lose its newfound status as a haven anytime soon, thanks to Thailand’s rising current-account surplus and record foreign reserves".

“’Thai baht remains a safe haven as we haven’t had significant impact from the worsening trade war like other emerging markets,” said Jitipol Bangkok-based chief strategist at Krung Thai Bank Pcl. The third most-accurate forecaster for the currency last quarter predicts the baht will rise to 30.25 per dollar by the end of the year",

The baht is a double edged sword. Great for the military and the rich elite who get their money out and store it offshore and watch it grow but a disaster for exports and the economy.

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Bangkok so expensive...and when i came back end of the year for 2 weeks then a month in April...WOW!!! cheaper to live at home in the UK. Well not unless you eat filthy polluted food of the street.

Even condos are getting expensive to rent...to live in comparison as home min 35000bht...hey same rental as UK.

My ex gf who i lived with paid 10000bht a month for a small 35sq foot.

Toooo small. Cheap...but not what i moved to Thailand for to lower my living standards

No disrespect to all you old expats...why would you want to live Bkk?

Maybe easier to pick up a young asian buy her meal drinks and get your leg over?

For you over 65s thats cool for you...till your money runs out which the way the currency is now will get worse before in a couple of years maybe recovers.

My ex (fillapino) kept having a go at me saying i was counting (watching) my money too much. Considering we used to go beach every 3rd weekend if she was not working and trips to Cambodia (great place and cheap) Vietnam Malaysia and brought her to the UK to meet my family and see her family...i would tell her....if you dont count your money then eventually you run out.

She does not understand that money dont grow on trees ha ha

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Ok so thailand has the best performing currency against usd. But i see lots of news about this next recession. Everyone will be draged into it supposedly. But asian markets will recover first as there not in deep like the euros and americans.

So whats the best move? Put usd to equal 800k in a bank here for a visa? Or buy property in vietnam? I am on the fence so to speak. I have ties in vietnam but prefer thailand. I know investing in thailand is a bad investment with the government driving it into the ground.

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Ok so thailand has the best performing currency against usd. But i see lots of news about this next recession. Everyone will be draged into it supposedly. But asian markets will recover first as there not in deep like the euros and americans.

So whats the best move? Put usd to equal 800k in a bank here for a visa? Or buy property in vietnam? I am on the fence so to speak. I have ties in vietnam but prefer thailand. I know investing in thailand is a bad investment with the government driving it into the ground.

"If I was a gambling man" like them industry-folks, I'd hedge my funds on Vietnam, 15Bn baht to 1Bn during 5 years in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) should tell you that much